ANS among first to nab elite Cisco NetApp FlexPod badge

Networking and cloud integrator ANS has become one of the first Cisco and NetApp
partners in the UK to be named to the vendors' joint FlexPod Premium Partner Framework, which
was launched earlier this week.

The worldwide channel initiative has been designed to support channel deployments of the
18-month old FlexPod converged server, storage and networking solution. Cisco and
NetApp claim to have over 1,000 customers already using the solution, with the vast majority of
sales made through joint partners.

The framework, which was built with feedback from partners, is designed to support
resellers investing in the architecture by offering increased differentiation, streamlined
multi-vendor interactions and enhanced profitability.

It includes the usual perks such as branding collateral, marketing and comms support, a
post-sales engineering helpdesk, training and demand generation tools. ANS is one of 15
European partners named to the framework, out of 22 worldwide. In the UK, it shares the distinction
with DiData and Logicalis.

The firm claims to have already delivered over £40m worth of infrastructures and 4,000 days of
FlexPod consultancy within its own Infrastructure 3.0 programme, with major customers including the
London Borough of Tower Hamlets and Salisbury NHS.

"We have been designing and building these networks for the past three years and have sold some
spectaculr solutions during that time. To be officialyl recognised as a Premium Partner is a
welcome validation of all of our hard work," said ANS MD Paul Sweeney.

Cisco director of datacentre go-to-market solutions, Brian Allison, added: "[We] have heard from
many of our joint channel partners that they want us tor educe complexity and streamline
multi-vendor interactions, while continuing to drive profitability.

Value-added resellers and service providers interested in reselling Aruba networking hardware and software can learn the benefits of becoming an Aruba Networks partner with this standardized checklist. Compare Aruba's reseller partner program with other vendors' offering similar products.